Paige Sutherland

Reporter

Paige Sutherland reports from a political town hall in Londonderry in 2014=5

Credit Allegra Boverman for NHPR

Before joining NHPR, Paige was a freelance writer for Boston's NPR affiliate WBUR, a freelance political reporter for WATD, and a general assignment reporter at the Boston bureau of The Associated Press.

A graduate of the graduate journalism program at Northwestern University, Paige received her undergraduate degree in Philosophy at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham headlined a local Chamber of Commerce event at The Halligan Tavern in Derry Monday morning, where he told the roughly three dozen people in attendance that his presidential candidacy rides on earning the support of Granite State voters.

With state budget negotiations largely stalled, Gov. Maggie Hassan presented what she called a new compromise proposal Thursday. But the plan seems to have done little to persuade Republicans to return to the negotiating table any time soon.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush headlined a forum Wednesday night sponsored by Americans For Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group based in Washington.

The discussion was part of a year-long series hosted by AFP called "Road to Reform," focusing on reforming the federal government by reducing spending.

Before the event, Bush mingled with the crowd, fielding questions about the health of his 91-year-old father who fell last week to voters who in the past had hosted his parents and brother at their homes.

Gov. Maggie Hassan has vetoed a bill that would have changed the state’s business tax code. The so-called “Planet Fitness” measure was introduced by the gym franchise in May after the company’s executives threatened to leave the state if the law was not changed.

More than 1,000 people gathered to greet Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Weirs Community Center in Laconia Thursday night -- though only half of them actually made it inside. Although the event reached capacity more than an hour before its start time, nearly all who traveled to the event stuck around to see Trump.

New Hampshire substance abuse treatment advocates met in Concord Thursday for their annual meeting, where members highlight the successes of the past year. But this year's meeting was focused on the year ahead and how the current state budget debate might shape their future.

New Hampshire residents will now pay an additional $5 for a marriage license. That is after Gov. Maggie Hassan signed a bill Monday that will up the fee to $50 in order to help fund prevention programs for domestic violence across the state.

Democrat Martin O’Malley returned to the campaign trail in New Hampshire this week. His main challenge, at this point in the primary race, is introducing himself to as many Granite State voters as he can.

Like many of this years GOP presidential candidates, Dr. Ben Carson spoke at New Hampshire’s traditional Politics and Eggs series, which has been a must stop for White House hopefuls for almost two decades.

But unlike most of the fourteen candidates, the former neurosurgeon has zero political experience. That lack of political baggage is actually an advantage, he told his audience.

Gov. Maggie Hassan has signed off on a bill that expands the use of medical marijuana to those with epilepsy, lupus and Parkinson’s disease. Currently about a dozen other illnesses are included under the law.

As promised, Gov. Maggie Hassan has vetoed a bill that would have allowed anyone who can legally own a gun to carry it concealed without a license.

Currently, people need to get a permit from local officials to carry a concealed firearm beneath a coat or in a handbag. Hassan said although she supports the second amendment, she believes eliminating this step would “compromise the public safety of our citizens.”

After officially entering the GOP presidential race in his home state of New Jersey on Tuesday, Gov. Chris Christie kicked off his campaign with a five-day trip to New Hampshire.

At a town hall event in Sandown Tuesday night, Christie told voters, "I want to be the next president of the United States and I plan to win the next election." And he's relying, in large part, on his personality to help him do that.

A Manchester man will plead guilty Wednesday to the 2001 fatal shooting of a pawn shop owner, making it the first conviction for the state’s Cold Case unit, which opened six years ago.

Arthur Collins, 46, was arrested back in 2012 after the state’s Cold Case unit reopened the case earlier that year. This is one of 104 unsolved homicides the unit was given to look into starting in 2009.

As of Wednesday, New Hampshire is now living under a six-month temporary state spending plan based on the last budget’s funding levels.

That means some agencies that were guaranteed increased funding in the 2016-2017 budget plan will be in flux until a new plan is crafted. That includes additional money for substance abuse treatment, a 10-bed crisis unit at New Hampshire Hospital and increased funds for winter road maintenance.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie didn’t waste much time hitting the campaign trail after declaring his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination Tuesday morning. Just hours after the announcement at his former high school in his home state, Christie met with voters in New Hampshire.

The 2015 size surplus or lapse has been a point of dispute between the Governor and Republican leaders for some time.

In crafting a new two-year state spending plan, GOP budget writers plan on $49 million rolling over July 1 after the 2015 fiscal cycle comes to a close.

But Sheri Rockburn, the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services, told the fiscal committee on Friday that the state's largest department expects to overspend its current budget. This means budget writers may lack a surplus they were banking on in their proposal.

Now that Gov. Maggie Hassan has vetoed the Republican-backed state budget, she wants lawmakers to get right to work on a new one. But when a new two-year spending plan will be crafted is the latest matter of debate.

New Hampshire’s Hands Free Law goes into effect in under five days, which will ban drivers from using hand-held electronic devices even at traffic lights or stop signs.

That means no cell phones, GPS, tablets, iPods, etc. unless they are operated by a Bluetooth or other hand free device.

At a press conference Thursday morning, State Police said starting July 1 all officers statewide will be strictly enforcing the law. Those found to abuse the law will be fined $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 after that.

With a Republican-controlled House and Senate, the GOP-backed $11.35 billion budget passed both floors Wednesday as expected. The two-year proposal now heads to the Governor, who repeated her promise to veto it once it arrives on her desk.

The House and Senate will be voting on the $11.3 billion state budget proposal on Wednesday. But what is different from most budget cycles – is this time lawmakers will also vote on a temporary spending plan to extend past June 30, which will keep government running if the governor does make good on her promise to veto it. NHPR reporter Paige Sutherland talks with Morning Edition host Rick Ganley

Hillsborough County lawmakers have rejected to fund a drug court in Manchester. The 123-member delegation voted 44-39 Tuesday night against a proposal to spend $450,000 of county funds towards implementing a drug court -- 39 delegates were absent during the vote.

Those who voted against the proposal said they support a drug court but just don't want the county to have to pay for it.

Dozens of Manchester officials and advocates testified in front of leaders of the Hillsborough County Legislation Delegation Monday morning, urging lawmakers to fund a drug court in the state's largest city.

Senate and House budget writers say they hope to have a final two-year spending plan by the end of the week, but after two days of meetings, little to nothing has been settled.

So far, all the major sticking points between the two proposals have been put on hold. That's left no room for discussion on issues such as increased funding for mental health, substance abuse, elderly care or developmental disabilities that were all put in the Senate version.